I still find it really hard, almost physically hard, to book plane tickets. It's the point at which you're committed really. Well, you're definitely going now, you think, as you stare at the airline email. Time to actually start worrying. I mean, I've been to NZ once, which is technically overseas I guess, but though I put it off and put it off, I felt I pretty much had to go somewhere actually different eventually.

Hey guys, not gunna come to Blue Lake this year, I'm going to Europe by myself for a month. Yeah, first time overseas really.

I had friends who were now living in Zurich and Bern, and my mum's family to visit in Milan. So ostensibly it was "friends and relatives and general Euro-backpacking trip". But, of course I packed shoes and harness and a helmet and some other bits and pieces, and got a lot of climbing done.

My contacts for climbing partners were not promising. Alex: "I was going to do a lead climbing course and buy a harness and shoes, but then I didn't". Marcus: "I've been bouldering at the wall at ETH Zurich, it's fun, but I only really do it for the fitness". Stephie: "I think she did an ice climbing course actually, but she's away for a couple weeks". Ari would have been keen, but had injured something. Scotty was in Bern, but hasn't climbed since he dislocated his shoulder in Mt Hay Canyon a few years back. Some guy on Chockstone was looking for a partner in the Dolomites.

Anyway, I had a good first week in Zurich, went clubbing, drank Feldschlossen on the trams, went to a 4th of July BBQ, went to Italy, visited the Casino Royale villa on Lake Como, e.t.c. e.t.c.

The university bouldering wall at ETH Zurich is amazing by the way. Free, outdoors, two large wooden artificial boulders with all sorts of problems, rubber matting on the ground, permanent slackline. Those Euros have it worked out. I think Marcus was slightly put out when I campused one of his favourite problems though.

But finally I was like "Well, see you later guys, I'm gunna try and go bouldering in this village in Ticino, it's called Cresciano".